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Deception In Macbeth

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Within Shakespeare’s ‘Macbeth’ the themes of cunning and deception are prominent, with all key characters utilising these traits in order to gain power or favour within the court. However, as seen through the eventual downfall of Macbeth, one must have more than ambition and a deceitful nature in order to maintain their hold on the power they have gained. At the time of the play’s creation King James had just taken the throne, with many opposing this appointed ruler. Through the implementation of themes such as guilt, deceit, Divine right of Kings and ambition (with the consequences of these actions resulting in death), Shakespeare is attempting to settle disruption and rebellion within England through this tragic play and it’s message. Throughout …show more content…

Although deceit and cunning is utilised by all characters within the play in order to gain power, it is represented in differing forms, with differing outcomes.

Through Macbeth's eventual use of deception and cunning within the later acts of the play, after being manipulated by his wife, he is able to take power quickly and unopposed. However, because of his overly ambitious nature and gradual descent into madness, these traits which previously rewarded him are now cause for his downfall and eventual demise. Originally, within Act 1 Scene 2 Macbeth is introduced as ‘brave’, ‘valiant’ and ‘worthy’, with this noble characterisation of Macbeth showing the audience that he is well regarded within the court. This is a clear contrast to his eventual characterisation in Act 4, where he is labelled a ‘tyrant’ or ‘angry god’. When we initially meet Macbeth, he is accompanied by Banquo, his friend and fellow thane. When the two encounter the witches Banquo states ‘ look not like th’ inhabitants …show more content…

Throughout the course of the play Lady Macbeth uses her ability of deception and cunning to manipulate her husband Macbeth in order to achieve her own goals of power, opportunity and freedom. The time period set for the play allows us to view the heavily re-enforced gender roles of Scottish middle age society, with Lady Macbeth being stuck within her roles of both mother and wife. Her implied inability to bare children is highlighted throughout the play, and as a result out of all characters seen within the script, Lady Macbeth is the most desperate to escape her specified role within society and through believing that power may allow her to do so, she chases it, using any means necessary including calling upon dark spirits, or pushing her husband towards murder ‘flower quote’. The representation of sin within her biblical reference shows her willingness to disrupt the divine right of kings and go against gods will in order to succeed. By likening her husband to Satan we are foreshadowed the ending of the play, as, just as the serpent is punished in the garden for his deceit, Macbeth Is killed for his, with both stories ending with the divine right restored and humanity ruled by the deserved king. Alongside this, the themes of appearance verses reality are bought to light in this scene as lady Macbeth instructing Macbeth to

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